Creation of Telangana to take close to six months

Creation of the new Telangana state will take close to six months that involve a number of steps, including adoption of state Re-organisation bill by Parliament by a simple majority.

Contrary to the perception that a Constitution amendment bill is required, the bill to be adopted by Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha does not need a two-thirds majority as is the case when a Constitutution amendment is required to be adopted.

At a Union Cabinet meeting, which is expected to be held tomorrow, an in-principle approval is likely to be given for creation of a Group of Ministers (GoM) comprising Ministers of Home, Finance, HRD, Health, Irrigation, Power, Environment and Forests, Railways and Deputy Chairman Planning Commission to go into the economic issues on creation of the new state.

The Home Ministry will submit a note to the Union Cabinet for creation of Telanagana on the basis of the proposal received from the state government. The entire process will take at least 40 days.

The Union Home Ministry will prepare another note for the Union Cabinet with Re-organisation bill on the basis of the recommendations and suggestions of the GoM requesting the Union Cabinet to approve the State Re-organisation bill and to recommend to the President to refer the Bill to the legislature of the state.

Andhra Pradesh State Legislature will also have to pass a resolution that a separate state of Telangana be formed.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance will appoint an expert Committee to recommend measures for smooth transition in terms of financial management and viability of the reorganised state.